Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 7, Number 3, 1 March 1990 — At Keaukaha-Panaewa [ARTICLE]

At Keaukaha-Panaewa

OHA helps finance self-help housing

By Ann L. Moore Twenty-two families on homestead lands at Keaukaha-Panaewa may soon be building homes with the cooperation of three agencies: the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and the Hawai'i County Eeonomie Opportunity Council (HCEOC). The first 22 families to participate in the project will be selected by DHHLand will put sweatequity into the homes. These homes represent Phase Iin what homesteaders hope will be a continuing statewide project. The proposed plan for Keaukaha-Panaewa eame to OHA when the Hilo Hawaiian Homebuilders' Support Group advised the group had a vote endorsing the concept of self-help housing on the home lands from DHHLand that HCEOC had agreed to administer the project.

For many homesteaders in Keaukaha-Panaewa this may be the only ehanee they will ever get to obtain an affordable loan to build a house on their lot the homebuilders' support group said. On Jan. 26, the OHA board of trustees voted to give $63,348 to the HCEOC to cover costs for house designs and administration. Based on need, DHHL will make loans to homesteaders ranging from $32,000 to $35,000. A total of $770,000 in loan money will be available for the 22 homes. HCEOC will supervise Phase I over the seven-month construction phase. Construction may begin as early as this summer since there is no requirement for a bid process and so contracts ean be expedited. DHHL will be the lead agency in the project eoordinating the homesteaders, the Hilo Hawaiian Homebuilders' Support Group and the HCEOC.

HCEOC will do self-help housing presentations to any homestead group, on any island, upon request. For information people may eall 961-2681. The Hilo Hawaiian Homebuilders' Support Group is made up of Hawaiian homesteaders committed to finding ways to build their own homes on their lots, including the self-help process. Officers of the support group are Ed Kanahele, president, Eleanor Ahuna, vice-president, Elizabeth Lee Loy, secretary, Abbie Napeahi, ehaplain, Sonny King of Alu Like, resource person and the Rev. Tuck Wah Lee, advisor. The support group, formed over a year ago, worked with homesteaders on Kaua'i, Maui, and O'ahu who wanted to start their own homebuilders' support group. To contact the group, write care of Eleanor Ahuna, 171 King Ave., Hilo, Hawai'i, 96720.